Head of the Belaruskali Strike Committee: We Are Crying Out for Help

The presence of Yara on the Belarusian potash market does not affect the situation with the rights of workers.

Praesidium of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union REP supports the establishment of a standing round table with the participation of independent trade unions, the strike committee and other stakeholders. Its goal is to develop joint, thought-out and solidarity trade union actions in support of the strikers as well as recommendations for the formation of relations with foreign partners of the Belarusian enterprises, writes praca-by.info.

All of the fuss started after the statement of the BRCDP, which opposed the termination of the contract between Yara International and Belaruskali. The REP trade union, a member of Congress, clarified its position and said that "such statements should not be taken without broad participation of the trade union and the strike committee of Belaruskali. The strike committee of the potassium giant supported the position of the REP.

Anatol Bakun, chairman of the strike committee of Belaruskali, told about the situation at the enterprise.

- More than 130 people joined the strike. Most of the strikers are in Belarus, but many had to leave the country. The safety of the family comes first.

- What are the relations between the strike committee and the Belaruskali administration?

- There was no dialogue. Ivan Ivanovich Halavatoy's statements of August 14 in front of thousands of workers about constructive dialogue are empty talk.

- How many members of the strike committee have been dismissed from the enterprise?

- The overwhelming majority. Only some elected members of the Independent Union of Mineworkers remained. However, hey also face pressure. On March 16, it became known that one offered them to voluntarily terminate contracts (proposed by the management of the Independent Trade Union of Mineworkers - ITUM) under the pretext that a new collective agreement would be concluded. In the new collective agreement, the ITUM wants to keep a paragraph about the dismissal of elected union members only by agreement with it.

At the same time, some of the elected members of the Independent trade union have already been dismissed without the consent of the trade union.

The statements of the Director-General of Belaruskali about hiring the strike participants, to put it mildly, are unclear. On the one hand, he talks about possible hiring. On the other hand, he demands approval by the Independent Trade Union to dismiss the members of the strike who are in elective positions.

I will voice the unanimous opinion of the participants of the strike: we did not resign from the enterprise. We have not to work, but to defend our civil rights. That's why we can only speak about unlawful dismissal and further reinstatement at our workplaces.

- Why has the situation around the relations of the Norwegian company Yara International and Belaruskali become so important?

- In fact, Yara International's position is clear. It has a code of conduct for business partners. In other words, business partners must respect the civil rights of workers. Otherwise, the company will not cooperate with such organizations. In our country, Yara International is in a dialogue with Halavaty without any levers to control the situation. Recent events have proved it. During the four-day audit of Yara International's delegation, members of the strike committee were detained, including by force Nothing of the kind had been observed before. During the visit, there were trials over the strikers, two of our representatives were sentenced to 15 days of arrest. Yara International's presence doesn't make any difference.

- The position of the BRCDP and the REP union is somewhat different. Whose position is closer to you?

- Of course, we're crying out for help, asking for solidarity. This situation is like a litmus test. We are glad to know that we are not alone, that the trade union REP supported us, showed solidarity. That is, it did what a real trade union should do.